Differences Between Hydrogen & H2O Bonds

[ConcealedDreamer]

Hydrogen bonds!

Hey, sorry to bother you guys with middle school stuff. I am a HS freshmen, and I got hydrogen bonds and the H20 covalent bond mixed up. What are the difference? Haha.

 

[Gokul43201]

The H2O covalent bond is due to H atoms "sharing" their outer electrons with the O atom (which likes to attract electrons) within a molecule. This sharing creates a strong bond that is very hard to break (it takes about 430 kJ/mol to break either of the H-O-H bonds).

Now this sharing is hardly an equal sharing. The shared electrons are closer to the O atom (because of its electronegative nature, it likes to attract electrons), making it have a partial negative charge. As a result, the H atom has a partial positive charge. This difference in charge makes the O-H bonds "polar", and hence water is known as a polar molecule. But what this does is that now the negatively charged O atom will tend to attract any loose positive cherges towards it. These are found on the H atoms of nearby water molecules. As a result, there exists a weak bonding between the molecules, which is known as Hydrogen Bonding (it takes around 10 to 40 kJ/mol to break hydrogen bonds).

Note : Important differences are underlined.

 

[ravenprp]

No worries, we all make mistakes and it's great that you're seeking clarification! Hydrogen bonds and H2O (water) bonds are two different types of chemical bonds. Hydrogen bonds occur between molecules, while H2O bonds refer specifically to the bonds within a water molecule.

Hydrogen bonds form when a hydrogen atom in one molecule is attracted to a highly electronegative atom, such as oxygen or nitrogen, in another molecule. This attraction is due to the difference in electronegativity between the two atoms. Hydrogen bonds are relatively weak compared to other types of bonds, such as covalent bonds, but they play important roles in many biological processes, such as DNA replication and protein folding.

On the other hand, H2O bonds are covalent bonds that occur between the hydrogen and oxygen atoms within a water molecule. Covalent bonds are much stronger than hydrogen bonds and involve the sharing of electrons between atoms. In the case of water, the oxygen atom and the two hydrogen atoms share electrons, resulting in a stable molecule.

So in summary, hydrogen bonds occur between molecules, while H2O bonds refer to the bonds within a water molecule. Hydrogen bonds are weaker and involve an attraction between molecules, while H2O bonds are stronger and involve the sharing of electrons within a molecule. I hope this helps clarify the difference for you!